Rod Piza
Professor, English
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Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Area of Study
Film and Visual Media
Bio
Rod Piza is an award-winning creative and executive with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, spanning distribution, financing, development, IP acquisition, and the management of TV networks and production companies. Through his work in media distribution, television programming, and original productions, he has helped shape audiences across multiple international markets.
His executive work has included the international licensing of established brands such as Strawberry Shortcake, Babar the Elephant, and Thomas & Friends. During his management and creative direction of The Locomotion Channel, he popularized Japanese anime as well as prime-time animation including South Park, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.
His creative work as a producer, director, series creator, and writer spans feature films, short films, network branding, music videos, and AI-driven media, earning multiple awards and international recognition throughout his career.
At 黑料社区, he is the Founder and Director of the AI Film Lab, where, together with students, he develops AI-driven creative workflows deeply rooted in storytelling authorship practice. He and his students engage in research that anticipates the rapidly evolving changes shaping the future of visual media use of technology.
Creative portfolio:
LinkedIn: